Everton remain set on Kirkby plan and move for Moutinho

Everton insist they remain committed to relocating to a new stadium in Kirkby, and are progressing with a club record deal for the Portuguese midfielder João Moutinho, despite the sudden resignation of chief executive Keith Wyness.

Wyness quit his £400,000-a-year post by email on Tuesday night, just days before the government are expected to announce whether the proposed 50,000-seat stadium and Tesco retail development should be called in. Any delay, Wyness has admitted, would probably scupper the controversial project.

Wyness has been instrumental in the Kirkby scheme and would be entitled to a club bonus should he deliver a new stadium. Everton claim his resignation is not linked to the government's decision and that the day-to-day running of the club will be unaffected. It is believed Wyness has been offered a job by the new Real Mallorca owner, Paul Davidson, although the British entrepreneur has denied the Scot will become the club's new chief executive, and has already cleared his desk at Goodison Park despite having a 12-month notice period in his contract. "The club wish to reiterate our commitment to the Destination Kirkby project. The departure of Keith Wyness is in no way connected to that project," read a club statement yesterday.

Wyness is known to have been frustrated at Everton, particularly at the lack of new investment, but has not been closely involved in transfer negotiations or talks over a new contract for manager David Moyes. Those details are mainly handled by the chairman, Bill Kenwright, and, with Everton confident of securing Moutinho from Sporting Lisbon for a fee of around £16m, Moyes has confirmed he delayed signing his new contract until signings began to arrive.

"Hopefully in the next week or so I'll get it tied down and get it done," said the Everton manager, whose budget will be swelled by up to £13m from the sale of Andy Johnson to Fulham, who are assessing the striker's medical results before concluding the transfer, which the Everton manager insists was instigated by the player. "It was AJ's choice," said Moyes.